Child Protection Policy Statement

LEAPS Child Protection Policy Statement

Purpose

LEAPS is a unique widening participation programme funded by the SFC and its higher education institution and local council partners, to increase progression to higher education. We aim to encourage and advise students who are traditionally under-represented in higher education (at college or university). We currently work with state secondary schools throughout Southeast Scotland, supporting pupils who meet LEAPS eligibility criteria. Our safeguarding and child protection procedures and policy statement have been produced to ensure that everyone involved in LEAPS is committed, and supported, to keeping children and protected adults safe. Protected adults are adults who are unable to protect themselves because of disability, illness, mental disorder, or mental of physical infirmary. This commitment also includes supporting staff to fulfil this duty of care.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to protect from harm; children, young people and protected adults who receive LEAPS services. 
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children, young people, protected adults and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding. This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of LEAPS, including senior managers and the LEAPS Management Group, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.

Scope

The scope of this policy covers all children under the age of 18 and protected adults 18+ as defined above. All LEAPS staff and volunteers are expected to comply. 

Legal Framework

Policy statement

• We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and protected adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
• We will give equal priority to keeping all children, young people and protected adults safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
• We recognise that some children and young people are additionally protected because of the impact of discrimination, previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues they face.

LEAPS will meet this commitment to keeping children, young people and protected adults safe by:

• listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated safeguarding lead who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in the organisation
• writing detailed safeguarding procedures
• ensuring children, young people, protected adults and their families know about the organisation's safeguarding policies and what to do if they have a concern
• building a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers and children, young people and protected adults know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns.
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through induction, supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• recording and storing information professionally and securely following GDPR and data protection laws
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance. 

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